The approval will allow for a train to run between the terminal and the future Belt Line Station on airport property.

Construction on the first two sections of the Orange Line (which stretches from the future Bachman station to Las Colinas and then to the Belt Line station) began earlier this year. The sections are scheduled to open in 2011 and 2012, respectively.

The vote also added a future connection from the Orange Line to the Cotton Belt, a DART-owned rail line that crosses DFW property north of state Highway 114.

DART added that their long-range plan is to connect the Red Line in the Plano/Richardson area to DFW Airport by 2027. The Fort Worth T currently has plans to operate rail service by 2013 on the western half of the Cotton Belt between Fort Worth and the airport as part of their Southwest/Northeast project.

DART and the T are also exploring a public private partnership to accelerate the start of Cotton Belt passenger rail service.